Regina Shen: Resilience

by Lance Erlick

Regina Shen is an outcast forced to fend for herself in a world that bans books. An approaching storm could be the least of her problems.

Perfect for fans of the Hunger Games, Divergent, and Maze Runner series, Regina Shen: Resilience is the first book in an action-packed, science fiction thriller with an ordinary yet strong female heroine facing extraordinary hurdles with resolve. With the young protagonist having to grow up fast, it should appeal to both young adult and adult audiences.

The World Federation condemns Regina and her family to live on the seaward side of barrier walls. Those walls were built to hold back rising seas caused by abrupt climate change. A hurricane threatens to destroy Regina’s world, tearing her from sister, mom, and home. Now Federation agents claim she has unique DNA that could single-handedly stop human extinction. It’s too bad she doesn’t trust them enough to barter fairly, let alone with her life.

Three-hundred-plus-year-old Grand Old Dames rule the all-female Federation using a rigid caste system. Their notorious Department of Antiquities, under the command of Chief Inspector Joanne Demarco, polices barrier walls, destroys knowledge from the past to suppress dissent, and pursues Regina for her genome.

Regina survives by her wits on swampy islands and thrives on salvage from sunken cities, including illegal print books from before the Federation. With her photographic memory, she defies Antiquities by consuming salvaged books not available in the Federation, which makes her an outcast among her peers.

Separated from sister, mom, and home, with Antiquities in pursuit, Regina fights to stay alive and avoid capture while hunting for family. Does she have the resilience to survive both the storm and Antiquities?

“Regina was likable from the start.” “If you like post-apocalyptic novels about survival, this is definitely the book for you.” (Tori Shultz, a LitPick Student Reviewer)

“A dystopia that isn’t the result of some huge cataclysm or alien invasion… That alone would be enough to make this novel stand out from the crowd.” “the plot is gritty without being “grimdark.”” (Thomas Weaver)

“This is a wonderful story about survival in the most dire circumstances.” (Tia, Goodreads)

“any who expect Regina Shen to be your typical teen disaster story are in for a surprise: it tackles issues of freedom, domination, change in the face of challenge, and a feisty girl whose flexibility and love of learning prove her keys to success … a story line that is compelling, vivid, realistic, and with far more psychological depth than the usual young adult dystopian read.” (D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review)

“What a ride!” “the protagonist rocks in her natural habitat. She is plucky and resourceful.” “I can’t say enough about the setting of the book. It was realistic and at no point did I feel it was layered on too thickly.” (Floryie)